Vehicle body construction



Oct. 14, 1930. 5. PAUL VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 24, 1928 2 Shoots-Shout l Oct. 14, 1930. 5. PAUL VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, 1928 6cm wags Patented Oct. 14, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SYDNEY PAUL, OF LIMA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 SUPERIOR BODY COMPANY, OF LIMA, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO VEHICLE BODY CONSTRUCTION Application filed October 24, 1928.

This invention relates to a vehicle body construction which is especially adapted to be used on motor busses and other vehicles having bodies of large capacity.

The general object of the invention is to provide a body construction, constructed mainly of wood, which is strong, rigid and durable, yet comparatively simple and inexpensive, although it is not restricted to the use of any particular material. In the cone struction which I have invented, the various sills are of such shape and secured together in such a manner, especially with reference to the outrigger construction, that the entire body is rigidly braced and is comparatively free from squeaks, such as are caused by the friction of one surface on another.

The specific construction of my invention and the advantages resulting therefrom will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a portion of a body constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of a portion of the body looking from a point above and to the rear of the same.

According to the construction shown in the drawings, the bottom portion of the vehicle body has longitudinal side sills 12, which are preferably of wood and made up of laminations. These laminations may be bent to conform to the desired contour of the body, and after they are glued together and the glue becomes dry, the sills will retain their shape. These side sills are connected by a plurality of cross frame members, each of which includes a cross beam 8 with a combined cross sill and outrigger 15 disposed therebeneath. The beams 8 are straight and disposed so that their ends meet the upper edge portions of the side sills 12, while the cross sills 15, also preferably of laminated construction, are gradually curved downwardly toward their ends, finally terminating in vertical portions which lie flat against Serial No- 314,616.

beneath the ends of the cross beams 8 is se-.

cured to the upper portion of the adjacent side sill 12 by bolts 13, which also serve as means for securing the vertical pillars 14. The end portion of each curved cross sill 15 is secured to the adjacent sill 12 by a bolt 16 or the like which also secures the bottom side sill 17 thereto.

In order to strengthen the construction, the bowed portion of each cross sill 15 is rigidly secured directly to the meeting portions ofthe adjacent cross beam 8 and the side sill 12 by a bolt 18 or other suitable means. This bolt, as shown in Figure 1, extends diagonally through the sub-sill 11 and through a spacing block 19, which is of suitable shape to fit in the space between the convex face of the cross sill 15 and the opposed faces of the sill12 and sub-sill 11 respectively. The head of the bolt 18 en gages a plate 20 which is secured to the adjacent portions of the cross beam 8 and sill 12 respectively.

The upperedges of the cross beams 8 are rabbeted or otherwise formed with seats to receive the floor 9, which may be provided with a suitable covering 10. Beneath the floor and connecting the cross sills 8, are longitudinal sub-sills 6.

The body is adapted to be bolted to and supported by longitudinal beams 5 which are represented as channel irons such as constitute a part of the usual chassis. Fibre strips 7 are preferably inserted between the beams 5 and the adjacent portions of the body, to prevent squeaks.

In accordance with the invention, the frame of the body may be made entirely of wood and when so made, is very strong in proportion to its weight. All curved parts of the frame, such as the sills 15 and 12, may be easily fashioned in the manner described, and when the glue between the laminations has dried, will be permanently held in shape. All parts of the frame are rigidly braced and supported from the channel beams 5. The cross frame members with branching ends, comprising the cross beams S and the cross sills 15, which are extended to form an outrigger construction, are secured to the other frame members to form a trussed construction which is very strong and rigid. The outer ends of the cross sills 15 are shown'as connected to the lower portions of the beams 5 by struts 21, but these struts may be omitted if desired.

While I have shown and described in considerable detail the preferred construction of the invention, it is obvious that the same may be modified. to a considerable extent without any material departure from the scope of the invention, as defined in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vehicle body, the combination of a longitudinal side sill, a cross beam having an end meeting the upper edge portion of said side sill, a side sub-sill immediately beneath the outer end of said cross beam and secured to the inner face of the longitudinal side sill, a cross sill secured directly to the bottom face of said cross beam and having an end portion curved downwardly with its extreme end portion lying flat against the lower edge portion of the side sill and secured thereto, and means rigidly securing the curved portion of the cross sill directly to the side sub-sill and to the meeting portions of the side sill and the cross beam, said means including a bolt extending diagonally downwardly and in wardly through said side sill.

52. In a vehicle body, the combination with cross beams for supporting the floor, of an outer longitudinal side sill at each side of the body and disposed with its upper edge porion against the corresponding ends of said cross beams, a sid sub-sill immediately beneath the ends of said cross beams and secured to the inner face of the longitudinal side sill, across sill secured to the bottom face of each cross beam and having its outer end portion curved downwardly to lie flat against the lower ea portion of the side sill and secured thereto, and means rigidly securing the curved portion of each cross sill directly to the side sub-sill and to the meeting portions of the side sill and cross beam, said means including a bolt extending diagonally downwardly and inwardly through said side subsill.

3. In a vehicle body, the combination of a cross beam, an'outer longitudinal side sill disposed with its upper edge portion against the end of said cross beam, a combined cross sill and outrigger extending from side to side of the vehicle and secured to the surface of said cross beam, and having each end portion curved downwardly with the lateral surface of its extreme end portion lying flat against the inside face of the lower edge portion of the side sill and secured thereto, main longi tudinal beams in supporting relation to the cross sill and outrigger, and means ri idly securing the curved portion of the cross sill and outrigger directly to the meeting portions of the side sill and cross beam.

a. In a vehicle body, the combination of a plurality of cross beams, an outer longitudinal de sill disposed with its upper edge portion against the corresponding ends of said cross beams, a combined cross still and out extending from side to side of the vehicle and secured beneath each cross beam and having each end portion curved downwardly with its extreme end portion lying flat a ainst the lower portion of the inside face or said side sill and secured thereto. main longitudinal beams in supporting relation to each cross sill and outrigger at the inner ends of its curved end portions, plates covering the meeting portions of the side sill and cross beams spacing blocks between said meeting portions and the curved portions of the outriggers, and bolts through said spacing blocks connecting said plates directly to the outriggers.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

SYDNEY PAUL. 

